‘Egregious breach of trust’: judge

JUDGE Tom O’Donnell said Terry Loughran was guilty of cold, cunning, systematic, predatory, premeditated and calculated grooming of a young teenager for his own sexual gratification.

In sentencing the former priest, the judge said he is guilty of the most egregious breach of trust which has resulted in serious psychological fallout which is still ongoing.

Judge O’Donnell said the evidence heard of the sexual assaults was “deeply disturbing”.

“They took place in parochial houses, trips to concerts, trips abroad to France, Andorra and Scotland and, indeed, one of the incidents took place in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. When arrested the accused denied that anything untoward had taken place.

“The modus operandi was mainly the same - events identified, tickets bought, overnight accommodation organised, rooms in a hotel where there would be a double bed, all organsied by the accused. The accused systematically groomed the victim for his own vile and nefarious purposes and self gratification. The victim was in effect taken sexual advantage of at every possible turn,” said Judge O’Donnell.

The judge said the victim impact statement is clear, cogent, erudite and the psychological fallout is palpable on every page.

“It is clear he has been waiting several years to have his voice heard and to express the physical and psychological pain he has endured for decades which included having to give evidence at a trial.

“It feels almost trite to say the fact that at long last the case has come to this stage will give him some comfort and help him to move forward suffice as to say all the guilt and angst felt through the years and endured is not of his making. He did nothing wrong - it was the accused who perpetrated the wrong,” said Judge O’Donnell, who spoke of Mr Loughran’s premeditated and predatory nature.

Six of the seven sexual assaults carry a maximum five year sentence with the seventh a maximum of 10 years due to a change in legislation.

Judge O’Donnell imposed four-year prison sentences on six of the charges, to be served concurrently. On the seventh count, Mr Loughran received a five and half year jail term, to be served concurrently, with the last year suspended on condition he be of good behaviour for the next five and a half years.

They were all backdated to January 5 of this year when his previous custodial sentence concluded.

Mr Loughran is to remain under the care, direction, supervision of Probation Service for 12 months post release.